The overall objective of EMERIPA is to develop and test a transferable European methodology and associated tools which will enable the regional actors to assess the effectiveness of their regional research and innovation policies within a European framework and to benchmark and recommend policies for increasing their regional performance in terms of sustainable development.

Since the mid-90s, the EC has supported EU regions to formulate or deepen innovation policies to improve their innovative capacity and optimise their regional innovation policy and infrastructure. Nowadays, many of the traditional regional policy strategies no longer apply. Innovation policies need to be flexible and undergo a constant process of assessment.

The purpose of EMERIPA stems from these challenges by means of:

developing a European methodology, new common tools and indicators which help to assess innovation policy impact;

the evaluation of the impact that the regional research and innovation policy framework is having on the regional innovation system/economy of the participating regions;

• a benchmarking exercise and good practices exchange;
  
• a Dissemination and Awareness rising campaign during the whole duration of the project.
• An analysis of the different regional performances and a consensus on conclusions about the regional situation will be achieved.

As a final stage, innovation policy recommendations will be outlined and the methodology, associated tools and indicators will be integrated into the mainstream regional research and innovation policies in the regions.